Waylaid

Hello there, I have been a little waylaid lately as I have been getting my interior design business up and running. I am please to announce i have an official page for Audrey Barton Interiors now you can visit it Here. Still a work in progress tho.

But I'm super excited as i can now share the unrelated family bloggish type stuff here!!!!

so here is a little of what we have been up to.

I wanted to practice some still life close up shots on an apple, but there was a little interference!

Woohoo!! It's Friday

Chalk for candles

I have been tossing up the idea of purchasing Photoshop. I love the thought of being able to produce some great photos to share on my blog here. But would I really use it enough to justify the cost? 

in the mean time I think I will work on my photo taking skills.

Yesterday the weather was surprisingly cool considering the previous 35 plus degree days we have had recently. So the girls and I thought we would go outside for a play.

"Give each other a cuddle"

"Can I play in the sand too?"

Making a birthday cake

Chalk for candles

Manhattan Loft Style

The Block: Fans vs Faves has started and I'm totally addicted already. I just can’t get enough of the Manhattan Loft style. To tell the truth, I didn’t really know it was a style, I just thought lofts were an upmarket apartment (technically they are). So I thought I would enlighten myself a little and do a bit of research.

The evolution of the loft as an architectural style property has influenced the whole concept of the New York apartment, specifically due to the nature of its space. A loft implies a large, open space that usually results from a commercial building having been converted into multiple dwelling residential units. Some remain open areas with few internal walls, while others have been constructed into one, two, or more bedroom apartments.

Lofts can be varied ranging from minimalist style to far more opulent and sophisticated. Famous architects and designers have relished in the opportunity to transform these spaces into chic, innovative homes, setting the standard for the highly stylized architectural Manhattan loft.

Manhattan loft style began when striving painters, sculptors, photographers, clothing designers and others of artistic vision found huge empty spaces in old commercial buildings that were inexpensive. They were willing to live in non-residential neighborhoods in exchange for the low rents of these previously undesirable buildings that provided the room for them to develop their crafts into successes.

SOHO was one of the first neighborhoods where this took place in the late sixties and early seventies. As people began to occupy the buildings, a sense of neighborhood began to emerge. Small corner pubs and eateries opened and by the late seventies, SOHO had been transformed into a thriving community with art galleries, avant-garde restaurants and shops.

Many building owners and landlords recognized how appealing loft apartments had become to the general public. They began to renovate their properties into loft-style apartments throughout the entire city. While some retain the elements of the old commercial buildings, featuring 14 to 20 foot pressed tin ceilings, huge over-size industrial windows, exposed pipes and service elevators, new construction developments offer opulent luxury buildings complete with every state-of-the-art amenity from concierge services to health clubs and swimming pools.

The stuff of dreams, don't you think?

Images are of Colourist Rita Hazan's loft, styled by Nate Berkus, via Domino

Darkness into light

Everywhere I look there is darkness.

No I'm not going through a breakdown, I'm beginning to realise my tastes and style. My bedroom is dark. I mean the walls aren’t painted a dark colour, but there just isn’t enough natural light. The blinds are constantly drawn closed to prevent neighbours viewing the everyday happenings of our home. The furniture is dark, the bed, the chest of draws. The walk in robe is a tiny dark hole ventured into via a door located behind another door.

As I rise early and make my way past the dark brown lounge suite, over the cheap burgundy fau Persian floor rug which malts insane amounts of fluff, into the kitchen with the imitation granite, laminate bench tops. Sigh…

I dream of white. A fresh pallet to which I can add any colour my heart desires. White walls, white kitchen cupboards, white bench tops, a white bedroom with light streaming in the windows. A larger walk in robe with floor to ceiling mirrors, and again light flowing in through the windows (which are currently non existant).

A resolution to add to the 2014 list…Lighten up my home!!!

So where to start?  I guess I will start at the front of the house and work my way back. Sounds feasible. Therefore the first hurdle will be the master bedroom, my room. The walls don’t need painting as I have only recently done this, in British Paints Arctic Crossing. Though its not a White white, more of a grey. But I aint going to paint it again any time soon (painting can be a little tedious when there are young children involved).  So here are the issues with the Master Bedroom in point form:

• ·      Blinds: the room is dark due to the blinds being drawn closed ALL the time.
• ·      Bed: it’s a pine bed stained an orange colour (shudder!)
• ·      Bed Linen: though the quilt cover set was purchased with good intentions I just don’t think it goes anymore, particularly since the room has been painted.
• ·      Tall Boy: also stained an orange colour. (shudder again)
• ·      Cameron’s Corner: consists of Guitar in bag sitting on floor. Also his old school photo is sitting on the ground (more on that in another post to come)
• ·      Desk: Its White!! (Thank God!!) though I think I need to organise things a little better.
• ·      The Ensuite: is fine though a little cramped.
• ·      The WIR: its just too small and zoo dark, we need more storage for clothes. Hmm…

Well there you have it. That is the first room for my new New Years Resolution.

Perhaps some of you lovely readers are looking around now thinking your home could do with a bit of a lighten up, or perhaps not. Tell me what your opinion, or perhaps you have some ideas you can share with me, I would love to hear it.

Lighten up everyone!

January Read

Just got myself a new book this morning. Couldn't walk past it! Can't wait to get into it!!

Bloglovin

Hey there, so i have just signed up to Bloglovin.

WOW! what a great way to keep up with all your blogging friends. You can follow me on there now too. Oh there needs to be more time in the day. Just click Here to sign up.

Happy Blog Lovin!!!!


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